How to Clean an Indoor Evaporator Coil
Evaporator coils are generally found in heating and cooling systems in many homes. They are most common in air conditioners and absorb heat when air is passed through the cooling system. They are similar in appearance to pipes; so over time they can accumulate dirt and debris. Ice can also accumulate and cause blocked air flow, which can affect the production of the evaporator coils. Cleaning the indoor coils is one way to solve the problem. These coils can be cleaned by most homeowners with the right tools. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Soft brush
- Air sprayer
- Water
- Sprayer
- Detergent
- Rags
- Garden sprayer
- Foaming cleaner
Instructions
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1
Brush off the coils thoroughly with a soft brush. Move from one side to the other to knock the thick layers of dust and debris off the coils.
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2
Inspect the coil to determine which direction the air flows across it. Spray a can of air from the cleaner side of the coil toward the dirty side to remove any remaining dust and debris that is lodged in the coil. Blow the air at right angles straight through the coil fins.
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3
If the evaporator coils are still in bad shape after the first two steps, fill a spray bottle with a mix of detergent with water and use it to clean the coils thoroughly. Let it sink in for 15 minutes. Rinse the coil and the coil fins by spraying them with clean water. Remove the water and cleaning sludge by wiping it out of the condensation pan with a clean rag.
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4
If step three doesn't work, fill a garden sprayer with foaming cleaner and cover the evaporator coils. Give it time to dry.
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Tips & Warnings
Make sure to blow the air toward the dirty side of the evaporator coil or dirt and debris will be forced deeper into the coil fins.
There is no rinsing necessary when using the foaming cleaner; it will simply soak into the evaporator coils.
